You know that is the same argument I've seen people who study nuclear science and rocket science make about Muslims -- we should give muslims art -- we'll do the science thank you. What do you need science for? we'll do it for you.
Now on a more important note -- people study science as they study anything else. Did you think when Pythagoras, Gauss, Euler, Ramujanan did their math, they were looking for a reason.
Further still, not my area of expertise, but I suspect: sciences produce natural wealth -- wealth produces societies that are at ease with themselves -- hard to climb Maslow's pyramid if your stomach is empty.
Thank you very much I'll get back to the study of science now.